AMENDMENT TO CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
This Amendment to the Custodian Contract is made effective as of July
1, 2001 by and between Xxxx Xxxxx Focus Trust, Inc. (the "Fund") and State
Street Bank and Trust Company (the "Custodian"). Capitalized terms used in this
Amendment without definition shall have the respective meanings given to such
terms in the Custodian Contract referred to below.
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian entered into a Custodian Contract
dated as of September 3, 1998 (the "Contract");
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian desire to amend certain provisions
of the Contract to reflect revisions to Rule 17f-5 ("Rule 17f-5") and the
adoption of Rule 17f-7 ("Rule 17f-7") promulgated under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Custodian desire to amend and restate certain
other provisions of the Contract relating to the custody of assets of the Fund
held outside of the United States.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereby agree to
amend the Contract, pursuant to the terms thereof, as follows:
I. Article 3 of the Contract is hereby deleted, and Articles 4 through 23
(including internal references to such Articles) of the Contract are
hereby renumbered, as of the effective date of this Amendment, as
Articles 5 through 24, respectively.
II. New Articles 3 and 4 of the Contract are hereby added, as of the
effective date of this Amendment, as set forth below.
3. Provisions Relating to Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7
3.1. Definitions. Capitalized terms in this Amendment shall have the
following meanings:
"Country Risk" means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of
holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to,
such country's political environment, economic and financial infrastructure
(including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country),
prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and
regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in
custody in that country; provided however, country risk shall not include the
custody or settlement practices and procedures of an Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager that are not prevailing practices in the
country in which the Foreign Assets are held.
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"Eligible Foreign Custodian" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule
17f-5, including a majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank
(as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of
an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other
appropriate action of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")),
or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 0000 Xxx)
meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the
term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.
"Eligible Securities Depository" has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of
Rule 17f-7.
"Foreign Assets" means any of the Fund's investments (including foreign
currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such
cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund's
transactions in such investments.
"Foreign Custody Manager" has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule
17f-5.
3.2. The Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager.
3.2.1 Delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. The Fund,
by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors (the "Board"), hereby delegates
to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set
forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets of the Fund held
outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as
Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Fund.
3.2.2 Countries Covered. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be
responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only
with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country
listed on Schedule A to this Contract, which list of countries may be amended
from time to time by the Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager.
The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign
Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the
Fund, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time
in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody
Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section
3.2.5 hereof.
Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open
an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on
Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Fund of the applicable account opening
requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to
have been delegated by the Board on behalf of the Fund responsibility as Foreign
Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such
delegation. Execution of this Amendment by the Fund shall be deemed to be a
Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets,
in each country listed on Schedule A in which the Custodian has previously
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placed or currently maintains Foreign Assets pursuant to the terms of the
Contract. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign
Custody Manager to close the account of the Fund with the Eligible Foreign
Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the
delegation by the Board on behalf of the Fund to the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the
Custodian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect closing such
account and to cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with respect
to that country.
The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated
responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the
Fund. Sixty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing)
after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no
further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund
with respect to the country as to which the Custodian's acceptance of delegation
is withdrawn; provided that such withdrawal shall have no effect on the
liability of the Foreign Custody Manager for its acts and omissions prior to
such withdrawal.
3.2.3 Scope of Delegated Responsibilities:
(a) Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the
provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and
maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as
amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as
Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible
Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign
Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to
custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that
Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the
safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified
in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
(b) Contracts With Eligible Foreign Custodians. The Foreign
Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody
arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign
Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).
(c) Monitoring. In each case in which the Foreign Custody
Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by
the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a
system to monitor, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(3), (i)
the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign
Custodian and (ii) the performance of the contract governing the custody
arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible
Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the
custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no
longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in
accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.
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3.2.4 Guidelines for the Exercise of Delegated Authority. For purposes
of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager shall not be responsible for
such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets
in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of
the Fund.
3.2.5 Reporting Requirements. The Foreign Custody Manager shall report
to the Board the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign
Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign
Custodian by providing to the Fund's duly-authorized investment adviser an
amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar quarter in which an amendment to
such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written
reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody
arrangements of the Fund described in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of
the material change as required by Section (b)(2) of Rule 17f-5.
3.2.6 Standard of Care as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund. In performing the
responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise
reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility
for the safekeeping of the Fund's Foreign Assets would exercise.
3.2.7 Representations with Respect to Rule 17f-5. The Foreign Custody
Manager represents to the Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section
(a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Fund represents to the Custodian that the Board has
determined that it is reasonable for the Board to rely on the Custodian to
perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Contract to the
Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund.
3.2.8 Effective Date and Termination of the Custodian as Foreign
Custody Manager. The Board's delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody
Manager of the Fund shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in
effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the
terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become
effective sixty (60) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such
notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to
and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Fund with
respect to designated countries.
3.3 Eligible Securities Depositories.
3.3.1 Analysis and Monitoring. The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund
(or its duly-authorized investment manager, investment adviser or other
delegate) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining
assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto
in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such
risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its
duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) of any material change
in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.
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3.3.2 Standard of Care. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable
care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section
3.3.1.
3.4 Access of Independent Accountants of the Fund. Upon reasonable request of
the Fund, the Custodian will use reasonable efforts to arrange for the
independent accountants for the Fund to be afforded access to the books and
records of any foreign banking institution employed as a Foreign Sub-Custodian
insofar as such books and records relate to the performance of such foreign
banking institution under its agreement with the Custodian as the Foreign
Custody Manager of the Fund.
4. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund Held
Outside the United States.
4.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms in this Article 4 shall have the
following meanings:
"Foreign Securities System" means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on
Schedule B hereto.
"Foreign Sub-Custodian" means a foreign banking institution serving as an
Eligible Foreign Custodian.
4.2. Holding Securities. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging
to the Fund the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign
Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its
customers, including the Fund, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that
is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers,
provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign
securities of the Fund which are maintained in such account shall identify those
securities as belonging to the Fund and (ii), to the extent permitted and
customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall
require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately
from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such
Foreign Sub-Custodian.
4.3. Foreign Securities Systems. Foreign securities shall be maintained in a
Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements
implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such
country.
4.4. Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.
4.4.1. Delivery of Foreign Assets. The Custodian or a Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Fund held by
the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System
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account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing
instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following
cases:
(i) upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Fund in
accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the
country where such foreign securities are held or traded,
including, without limitation: (A) delivery against
expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of
a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in
accordance with the rules governing the operation of the
Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign
securities;
(iii) to the depository agent in connection with tender or other
similar offers for foreign securities of the Fund;
(iv) to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign
securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become
payable;
(v) to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the
name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign
Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such
Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number
of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same
aggregate face amount or number of units;
(vi) to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for
examination or trade execution in accordance with market
custom; provided that in any such case the Foreign
Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for
any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to
receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from
the Foreign Sub-Custodian's own negligence or willful
misconduct;
(vii) for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or
readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such
securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained
in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;
(viii) in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities,
the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights
or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or
temporary securities for definitive securities;
(ix) for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by
the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund;
(x) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
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(xi) in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and
(xii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered
and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such
securities shall be made.
4.4.2. Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions,
which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the
Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the
respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Fund in the
following cases only:
(i) upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Fund, unless
otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering
money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an
agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of
receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in
the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities
System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation
of such Foreign Securities System;
(ii) in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of
foreign securities of the Fund;
(iii) for the payment of any expense or liability of the Fund,
including but not limited to the following payments: interest,
taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees
under this Contract, legal fees, accounting fees, and other
operating expenses;
(iv) for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign
exchange contracts for the Fund, including transactions
executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign
Sub-Custodians;
(v) in connection with trading in options and futures contracts,
including delivery as original margin and variation margin;
(vi) for payment of part or all of the dividends received in
respect of securities sold short;
(vii) in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign
securities; and
(viii) for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper
Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming
the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
4.4.3. Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Contract to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for
the account of the Fund and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the
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account of the Fund may be effected in accordance with the customary established
securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or
market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation,
delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or
an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later
payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.
The Custodian shall provide to the Board or its duly-authorized
designee the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in
countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on
Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian
may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall
result in the Board or its duly-authorized designee being provided with
substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.
4.5. Registration of Foreign Securities. The foreign securities maintained in
the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be
registered in the name of the Fund or in the name of the Custodian or in the
name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the
foregoing, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any
liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a
Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of
the Fund under the terms of this Contract unless the form of such securities and
the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market
practice.
4.6 Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the
Fund cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the
Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does
not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank
account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United
States on behalf of the Fund with a Foreign Sub-Custodian in accordance with the
provisions of this Amendment. All accounts referred to in this Section shall be
subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign
Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash
received by or from or for the account of the Fund. Cash maintained on the books
of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates),
regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established
under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
4.7. Collection of Income. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts
to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held
hereunder to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as
collected, to the Fund. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to
collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such
measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to
such measures.
4.8 Shareholder Rights. With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to
this Article 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to
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facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always
to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country
where such securities are issued. The Fund acknowledges that local conditions,
including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and
other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Fund
to exercise shareholder rights.
4.9. Communications Relating to Foreign Securities. The Custodian shall transmit
promptly to the Fund written information with respect to materials received by
the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign
securities being held for the account of the Fund (including, without
limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and
expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or
exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund written
information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers
of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party
(or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer. The Custodian shall not be
liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power
in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Fund at any time
held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is
in actual possession or control of such foreign securities or property and (ii)
the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any
such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days
prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such
right or power.
4.10. Liability of Foreign Sub-Custodians.
Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian, acting solely in its capacity as
custodian, employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall require the Foreign
Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties and,
to the extent possible, to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian from and
against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in
connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian's performance of such obligations. At
the election of the Fund, the Fund shall be entitled to be subrogated to the
rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign
Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense,
liability or claim if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole
for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.
4.11. Tax Law.
The Custodian, as custodian, shall have no responsibility or liability for any
obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian
of the Fund by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political
subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of the Fund to notify the
Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian
of the Fund by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above
sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments
or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The
sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use
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reasonable efforts to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or
refund under the tax law of countries for which the Fund has provided such
information.
4.12. Liability of Custodian.
Except as may arise from the Custodian's own negligence or willful misconduct or
the negligence or willful misconduct of a Sub-Custodian, the Custodian shall be
without liability to the Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense
resulting from or caused by anything which is part of Country Risk.
The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign
Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians
generally in the Contract and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in
the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the
Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or
claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or
acts of war or terrorism or any other loss where the sub-custodian has otherwise
acted with reasonable care.
III. Except as specifically superseded or modified herein, the terms and
provisions of the Contract shall continue to apply with full force and
effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Contract
prior to this Amendment and this Amendment, the terms of this Amendment
shall prevail. If the Custodian is delegated the responsibilities of
Foreign Custody Manager pursuant to the terms of Article 3 hereof, in
the event of any conflict between the provisions of Articles 3 and 4
hereof, the provisions of Article 3 shall prevail.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Amendment to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the
date first above written.
WITNESSED BY: STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------- -----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President Title: Executive Vice President
WITNESSED BY: XXXX XXXXX FOCUS TRUST, INC.
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------------- ------------------------------------
*[name] Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
[title] Assistant Secretary Title: Vice President and Secretary
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